TROUT - RIVERS & STREAMS - Summer trout fishing has been getting better and better as August comes to an end. The generally cool weather and very moderate water temperatures have made for good fishing in a number of areas. Conditions this weekend should be very good (especially earlier in the weekend as warmer more uncomfortable weather is forecast to move in beginning on Sunday) although flows this year in eastern CT continue to be lower than typical for the summer (see stream flow graphic on page 4). This time of the year terrestrial fly patterns are very important.

Farmington River - TROUT fishing has been very good and anglers can look forward to even more fish in the river as this week DEEP has stocked 2,000 trout for the labor day weekend. These fish are all brown trout (12 inch and bigger fish) with 500 fish stocked from the Goodwin Dam down to the upper boundary of the year-round catch-and-release area, 1,000 fish stocked from the lower end of the year-round catch-and-release area to the lower Collinsville Dam, and 500 fish from the lower Collinsville Dam to the Route 177 bridge (Unionville).

CONNECTICUT RIVER

Flows are comfortable for fishing and still a bit higher than typical late August levels, but still sufficiently low to make accessing some back areas and coves difficult. CARP have come to the net in the Middletown to Haddam Meadows area. LARGEMOUTH BASS are on the bite in Wethersfield Cove. SMALLMOUTH BASS (although action has been slower this year) are reported in the Enfield (Kings Island) area. Although size was fairly good (fish averaged out a1.8 lbs each, lunkers included 4.63 lb largemouth and 2.85 lb smallmouth).

SALT WATER

STRIPED BASS fishing has improved on the local reefs and rip areas with fish measuring (length in inches) in the high 40's being reported. Live lining bunker (Atlantic menhaden) or scup is a good way to score on "cow" stripers. Also, don't overlook fishing the rivers at night. Large stripers have been ascending the tidal rivers to feast on bunker.

BLUEFISH fishing is still not consistent for this time of year but is slowly getting there. There is a mixed bag of sizes with most fish ranging from 4 lbs to the lower teens. SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is fair to good especially in deeper (50+ ft) water. SCUP (porgy) fishing continues to improve on the local reefs. BLACK SEA BASS fishing is also good on the major reefs and wrecks. The reefs from Madison over to Branford reefs have been consistent fishing areas.